Concord Music has acquired movie soundtrack and score label Varèse Sarabande.
The asset has been sold by Film Score Records, an investor group led and managed by The Cutting Edge Group.
As part of the deal, Cutting Edge itself becomes a client of Concord Music, which will provide distribution, marketing, and label services to the firm on a worldwide basis.
Concord Music will retain Varèse Sarabande’s staff and add them to the team behind its recently-launched Craft Recordings imprint.
Varèse Sarabande’s 2,000 title, 40-year old catalog includes new soundtracks and newly-recorded albums from a swathe of respected film composers including Jerry Goldsmith, Bernard Herrmann, Alex North, Elmer Bernstein, Danny Elfman, Michael Giacchino, Mark Isham, John Powell, Alan Silvestri, Brian Tyler, Christopher Young and Hans Zimmer.
Founded in 1978, the firm is well known for releasing deluxe and expanded editions of special soundtracks for film music aficionados.
Its catalog also boasts numerous Oscar-nominated film scores including that from this years’ nominee Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (pictured) by composer Carter Burwell.
Its Varèse Vintage imprint specializes in releasing new and re-issued albums by classic pop, jazz and country artists.
“The acquisition of Varèse Sarabande continues to strengthen Concord’s position as a leader in the industry. On the 40th anniversary of the storied Varèse Sarabande brand, we are proud to take over this prolific legacy and catalog and, most importantly, continue to invest and grow the film score/soundtrack market,” stated Steven Salm, Concord Music Chief Business Development Officer.
“we are proud to take over this prolific legacy and catalog and, most importantly, continue to invest and grow the film score/soundtrack market.”
Steven Salm, Concord Music
Cutting Edge says it plans to continue to focus on its core business of funding, creating, and acquiring music for feature films and television programs – working in partnership with Concord.
Concord Music Chief Operating Officer, Glen Barros said: “In addition to adding the great legacy and team associated with Varèse Sarabande, we are also grateful for the opportunity to partner with Cutting Edge.
“Considering how Cutting Edge has been responsible for so many incredible film scores over the past decade, such as The King’s Speech, Sicario, and Whiplash, we look forward to seeing what’s next and using our resources to achieve our mutual goals.”
Varèse Sarabande CEO, Darren Blumenthal said: “While it has been an absolute honor and tremendous experience running Varèse Sarabande for the past 5 years and working so closely with the best soundtracks team in the industry, as I continue to run Cutting Edge in the US, I do so knowing Varèse’s future is in great hands with Concord Music, and I look forward to continuing our successful partnership with the combined Concord/Varèse Sarabande.”
The Varèse Sarabande acquisition was managed and negotiated for Concord Music by Steven Salm, Chief Business Development Officer and Michael Poster from Michelman & Robinson, LLP, legal advisor to Film Score Records and Cutting Edge.Music Business Worldwide
